Packing case



W. GEISLER PACKING CASE May 7, 1957 Filed Sept. 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS y 1957 w. GEISLER 2,791,366

- PACKING CASE Filed Sept. 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR W/L LIAM GE/sL ER ATTORNEYS United States Patent PACKING CASE WilliamsGeisler,'Tenafiy,NLJ assignor, by mesne assignments, to Wzilbro:Corporation, Haclcensack, N. 1.,

a corporation of New Jersey Applicationseptember 20, 1951, Serial No.- 247,435

3 Claims. (Cl. 229-35) stacking strength .and for other purposes all as fully describedin said prior application.

.In the: casedisclosed. in .myiprior application the-rubber :angles arestitchedorriveted alongone sideto'the bottom and side walls of the case adjacentthe -corners before the caseis erected. and .after the. case is set up the other sides of the angles are stitched or riveted to theadjacent over- ..lapped-endflaps. \A case so constructed is strong, rigid andotherwise suita-blefor handling beverage bottlesand like loads, but is opento the objectionthat the userin ordertostore thecases-in knock-down condition-had to .stitch-or rivetthe cases after erection thereby requiring the. installation of a-stitching machine in the users plant and a the -.instruction tofz an operator in its use.

By.- the invention of the present application this "stitching of the erected case is eliminatedand a pasting means provided which may be quickly applied by unskilled labor and whichipro'v-ides arcase as: strong and dur able as the stitched case of anyprior application. xA-further object of the invention is to provide a fastening which may be removedwithout'damagetothe case 'softhat the casemay befolded flat and returned 'forreusethereby greatly redueing shipping 'and storage costs.

Other objects ofthe invention willappear from the following drawings and specification wherein Ihaveillus- -trated a preferred embodiment of my inventionand certain modifications all lashereinafter fully described.

ln the said'drawing's':

'Fig. 1 is a plan view of'the paper-board blank used in making my improved packing case;

Fig. 2 is a,persp'e'ctive"view "of one of the rubber-reinforcing pieces used'in themanufacture of the-case;

.Fig. 3 -is.a perspective view showing the case folded flat for shipment;

Fig; 4'is .a'pe'rspective view of the erected case;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on-an-en-larged scale showing :my improvedrfastening means;

Figs. 6 and 7 are detailed views similar to Fig. 5 showin g the method of applying my improved fastening means;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate form of fastening device;

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the fastening of Fig. 8 in place;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line 1ii1ii of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the cut and scored blank used for making a different form of case;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the erected case made from the blank shown in Fig. 11; and

F-atented May 7, 1957 Fig; 13 is a sectionalview on line 13--'-l3- of Fig. 12. Referringtothe drawings, particularly to Fig. '1, 1 indicatesthe position of the'blank which forms the bottom wall of the case and'Z, 2, the side walls.

The walls '1 and Z'have end flaps, 3 and 4, respectively, at each end, all the flaps being I of an area coextensive with the dimensions of the ends of-the case, when the side walls 2) are raised to vertical position so that the end walls of the case are formed throughout of three thicknesses of paperboard thereby addinggreatly to the strength and stiffncss of the case.

The end flaps 3. and 4 are preferably provided with hand .holes 5 and are also provided with round holes 6 positionedtoregister withieach other when the case is erected asashown in Fig. 4. Theholes 5 and d may be cut in .the blanks at the same time thatthe blanks are cut and scored to provide the flapsand fold lines 7. The fold lines between the end flaps 3 and 4 and the bottom and side walls of'the box are preferably formed by a triple score as shown in Fig. l whereby the flaps 3 and 4 may be overlapped and lie flat one against the other throughout their entire area.

To-strengthen and reinforce the case I preferably pro- -vide each endof thecasewitha rubber reinforcing'strip 8 of angular cross-section. The strip 3 is shown in Fig. 2. it consists of onecontinuous side 9 which is stitched .as

shownin Figs. 3 and 4 along the ends of the bottom and side walls land 2 with the-corner of the angle in alignment withthe'outermost-of-the triple score lines 7 between the'end flaps the side and end walls. The other side-of the strip -8is-divided into three sections 10 of equal length separated by V-notches 11, so that-the side walls 2 may be folded to positions at'right angles with the bottomwall' lwhenthe carton is erected.

The strips 8 arezpreferably-fastened to the paperboard blank bysewing with cotton or linenthreadinstead of by metal stitching as described in any above-mentioned copending application. I have found. that metal stitches tend ito eutsthe paperbomd.particularly if'the board is somewhat softenedbyitheabsorption'of moisture whereas the cotton and linen thread nrakes a permanent fastening of equalistrength whiclr does :not tear'no'm'atter how roughly the case be handled.

The strips 8" are readily fastened tothebla'nk by means of asewin'g machine. In this operation'the end flaps 3 and 3 Fl are raised to :vertical position frorn the' position shown 'in 'Fig. 1, the strip's 'sare'placed 'in position under the corners and the assembled blank and strips run through the'maehine. '-A-'niachine-with two sewing heads'niay be used with advantage for this operation.

-After the strips Sate s'ewnto the bla'nk'the end flaps 3* and 4-are folded down'fiat as shown in Fig. 3 in which '-con'clition"the cases may-be stored and shipped. The fastehing' buttons 12 which will be later described, may be placed inth'e holes 6 in the end flaps 3 at the time the strips8 are "attached so thateach case will be complete and ready for erection.

The"button"s 12 are shown in' detail'inFigs. 5, 6, and

7. They are of molded rubber of a shape similar-to an ordinary collarbutton. The isharik 13 is-.of a length be- "tweentheadjacent. faces-(of the heads-:14 and15, equal rod 17 is withdrawn the button" returns to its normal shape.

When the case is to be used it is erected by first lifting the end flaps from the position shown in Fig. 3 to vertical position. The side walls 2 are then raised to vertical position thus bringing the end flaps 4 into overlapping relation with the end flap 3, with the end flap 3 innermost. As the case is squared up the bottom and side edges of the flaps 4 fit in between the flap 3 and the adjacent portion of the rubber strip 8, the space between the flap 3 and the part 10 being just sufficient, when the flap 3 is folded on the innermost of the three score lines to receive the edges of the other flaps. When fully squared up the holes 6 in the flaps 4 will overlie the buttons 12 as shown in Fig. 6. The rod 17 is pushed into the bore 16 of the button as shown in Fig. 7 thereby reducing the shank 13 and head 14 in diameter so that the head 14 can be thrust through the holes 6 in the flaps 4. When the rod 17 is withdrawn the button contracts to the position shown in Fig. 5, thus fastening all the flaps together and maintaining the case in squared up position.

Instead of using the buttons 12 to fasten the flaps together I may use a metal channel member 20 such as shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10.

The channel 20 is of a length to reach from the rubber strip at one side of the box to the strip at the other side thus serving to cover the greater portion of the edges of the end flaps 3 and 4 and to stiffen the ends of the case so that a fully loaded case may be picked up by one hand hold without causing the case to bulge.

For holding the channels 20 in place and facilitating the application of the channels short upwardly inclined tongues 21 are provided at each end, which serve, as the channel is placed over the upper edges of the end flaps, to spread the edges of the channel so that it may be easily pushed into place.

Registering holes 22 are formed in the end flaps 3 and 4 in position to receive the tongues 21 when the channels are in place and thereby prevent the removal of the channels and also hold the fiaps 3 and 4 against relative lateral movement.

In Figs. 11, 12 and 13 I have shown a case for handling light loads for which no reinforcing is required. This case comprises a bottom wall 25, side walls 26 and end flaps 27 attached to the ends of the bottom wall 25 and end flaps 28 attached to the ends of the side walls 26. The case is wider than it is high and consequently the end flaps 28 are not of the same dimensions as the flaps 27 but instead are cut 01f to 'a width half that of the flaps 27 so as not to overlap when the case is erected.

As shown the end flaps 27 are provided with hand holes 29 and holes 30 for buttons 12 at both ends of the hand holes. The case is also preferably provided with top flaps 31 each of which has end flaps 32 adapted when the case is closed to project between the flaps 27 and 28 and engage the neck of the button 12, for which purpose the flaps 32 are provided with holes 33 and slots 34 connecting the holes with the edges of the flaps. The slots 34 are widened at their outer ends to receive the shanks of the buttons 12 as the top flaps are closed. The hollow shanks will be compressed by the narrow portions of the slots 34 as the flaps are closed and will expand into the holes 33 when the flaps are in fully closed position thus holding the case securely closed.

The top flaps 31 may also be provided with edge flaps 35 when the case is used for shipping bottles and the like which flaps serve to'stitfen the case and hold it in shape.

If it is desired to seal the case a strip of gummed tape may be placed over the meeting edges of the top flaps.

In the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings I have disclosed certain preferred embodiments of my invention but it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the construction disclosed except in so far as the elements thereof are recited in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A collapsible packing case comprising a sheet of paper board cut and scored to provide integral bottom, side and end walls, with the end walls consisting of rectangular flaps projecting from the ends of the bottom and side walls with score lines at the base of the flaps, said flaps being shaped to overlap when the case is erected with the side edges of the flaps attached to the side walls aligned with and adjacent the score lines of the end flaps attached to the bottom wall, and reinforcing angles having one side attached to the bottom wall adjacent said score lines with the other side of said angles spaced from the face of said bottom flaps a distance equal to the thickness of the overlapping end flaps whereby the edges of said flaps are held in engagement throughout their length with the inner face of the attached side of the angle and a detachable fastener near the upper edges of said overlapping flaps for holding said flaps in overlapping position and at right angles to their attached wall sections.

2. The packing case of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing angles are rubber.

3. The packing case of claim 1 wherein the fastening consists of an extensible rubber button extending through registering holes in the overlapping flaps, said button having two heads of greater diameter than the diameter of said holes engaging, respectively, opposite sides of the overlapping flaps and a connecting shank extending through said holes, said shank having an axial bearing opening through one of said heads and extending substantially the length of the shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 429,579 Oliver et al. June 3, 1890 881,785 Flora Mar. 10, 1908 1,014,450 Carlsson Jan. 9, 1912 1,102,445 Schwab July 7, 1914 1,241,633 Johnson Oct. 2, 1917 1,293,801 Kitt Feb. 11, 1919 1,694,291 Sywert Dec. 4, 1928 1,974,160 Pierson Sept. 18, 1934 2,039,859 Watkins May 5, 1936 2,122,654 Nickerson July 5, 1938 2,184,829 Zalkind Dec. 26, 1939 2,383,853 Guyer Aug. 28, 1945 2,426,326 Tooms Aug. 26, 1947 2,544,283 Snyder Mar. 6, 1951 2,657,948 Sturtevant Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 109,895 Sweden Dec. 29, 1943 

